The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources:

Additional Crown Land Available for Agricultural Use

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a significant advancement for the agriculture industry.

Earlier this month, I was pleased to join the Premier and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment in announcing that additional Crown lands would be available to agricultural producers in the province.

Mr. Speaker, my department has identified 62 areas of interest totalling approximately 64,000 hectares for agricultural use. To date, 19 of those areas – a total of 15,500 hectares – have been reserved for development which almost doubles the amount of Crown land available for agricultural development. We are also progressing toward making much of the remaining 43 areas available in the very near future.

Prior to making this decision, we consulted with farmers, municipalities and other stakeholders who are knowledgeable about the industry. Their input was invaluable.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important initiative outlined in The Way Forward: A Vision for Sustainability and Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador. By moving forward with these changes to Crown lands, we are helping farmers expand their operations; encouraging new entrants to consider agriculture as a viable career; and advancing food security measures.

Mr. Speaker, we are delivering on our commitment to increase food self-sufficiency by at least 20 per cent by 2022.